Second Summer: The Turnback Time

by Amelia Walsh, James Stambaugh

DOMINANT FOR OVER 100 MILLION YEARS: Planet Earth, reduced by global warming to an apocalyptic wilderness, finds its inhabitants decimated by a reawakened Mesozoic plague. Then, rising from millions of years of hibernation, a breed of reasoning dinosaurs, Troodons, enter what is left of a world devastated by the human species and plague. Foretelling the return of creatures "wise and wonderful," Longeyes, a seer of the Salish tribe, handpicks a small band of humans to greet the Troodons. Max, a paleontologist long-ridiculed by colleagues for his theory that dinosaurs achieved sentience during their 100-million-plus-year reign, is central to Longeyes' spiritual quest. On a collision course with Longeyes is a titanium magnate whose billions have flowed from building domed cities for the wealthy in the American wasteland. Applying his "whatever works" approach and enormous wealth, Gregor sets out to exploit the Troodon visitors and kill anyone who stands in his way. Guy, Gregor's illegitimate son, a former ecoterrorist. is being pursued by the federal police. Guy renounces his mission of destroying the domed bastions of the privileged in exchange for a more constructive goal: building a community in the midst of his father's empire in the pollution-free northwest U.S.. Conflict among five equally passionate groups, with species survival as the prize, forces a clash that will determine the fate of Earth's first masters and the remnants of the human race. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: James Stambaugh has written plays for children, a number of screen plays, and has published poetry. Currently he is working on an illustrated book of original verse. A Coloradan, he is an avid film buff. Amelia Walsh is a therapist living in Colorado who specializes in neuropsychological assessment and the rehabilitation of victims of abuse and emotional trauma. She has a B.A. in English and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.

324 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2008

Reviews

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is intriguing in that it blends various different concepts into a coherent exploration of society's values and preconceptions. Why do you place som much value on money and power? It also has characters that recognize and show us that this is not teh most important measure of power. On a more simple level, it is a good adventure story with villans, dinosaurs, and saving the worlds. I look forward to reading more from these authors.